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Naturally, Space Battles are a common occurrence. The player is able to customize each ship to a great extent to fit a particular task. Instead of a whole civilization, the player is put in control of a fleet of starships exploring the galaxy, encountering the other Lost Colonies and, possibly, alien civilizations as well, and dealing with various threats. The game is played out on a 2-D Space map.
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Instead of one ship, a whole fleet is launched, ready for anything and prepared to render aid to the other colonies. The colonists begin the construction of a starship to take their emissaries to meet their brethren only to decode the message half-way through the construction and discover that it's a call for help. Your colony has flourished and began to wonder about the fate of the other human colonies on other worlds. Other county employers are struggling to convert traditional offices to more open floor plans, he said.Īnd when he asked about how graduates from schools like the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, could help the studio, Martin said Firaxis already has hired many of them and worked with administrators to align curriculum with work force needs.Thousands of years have passed since the launch of the ships that settled the various exoplanets. Kamenetz said he was pleased to see the company was able to use its space, a former warehouse, to suit its needs. "Every game is so fickle as it relates to consumer interest," he said.įor Baltimore County economic development officials visiting the studio Monday, there was little to be concerned about. For now though, Firaxis has no plans to ramp up hiring further, Martin said. The studio expanded its space on Loveton Circle by almost one-fourth this year, to 40,000 square feet, adding space for what could eventually be an additional team to focus on new projects. That means studios also can learn more about who their customers are, no longer relying on mailed-in information cards. Steam, an online gaming marketplace, has become a key distribution platform for Firaxis.
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Instead of producing CD-ROMs to be sold at Best Buy, developers can offer their creations for download online. New technology has in some ways made it easier and cheaper to create and sell games. Gaming media outlets reported Firaxis cut 20 jobs, about 15 percent of the studio, in 2010. Big Huge Games closed, only to be relaunched by developers jettisoned when Zynga, the West Coast developer known for "Farmville," closed its East Coast headquarters in Timonium.įiraxis has only laid off staff once, Martin said.
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Perhaps of the East Coast, Martin corrected.īut each investment in a new title comes with a risk, Martin said.Īpart from Firaxis, the local industry has seen significant upheaval in recent years. "I think we are the gaming capital of the world," Baltimore County Executive Kevin Kamenetz said jokingly on a visit to Firaxis' headquarters Monday.
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